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Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Two More PAK FA Prototypes to be Produced

Russia will receive two more prototype PAK FA stealth fighter jets in 2017.

Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov reiterated earlier this week, on June 5, that two more prototypes would be produced, following the production already.

He said, "The work on PAK FA is now at the final stage, and this year we receive the 10th and the 11th planes, which will be tested, and in the future state armament program for 2018-2025 we plan first purchases of T-50 fighters." T-50 is the name of the prototype jets.

Deputy Defense Minister Borisov had previously stated that three prototypes would be manufactured in 2017. The first of these (T-50-9, which is the ninth overall in the program) was spotted last month.

T-50-10 and T-50-11 will be produced before the end of the year and handed over for testing.

Russian officials have indicated they expect the first batch of serial-produced PAK FAs -- possibly an order for six jets -- to be handed over to military no sooner than 2019; by 2021 at the latest they are expected to be in operational service.